The most significant castle in Slovakia is the Spišsky Grad. The splendidly preserved, with its rich architecture and interior decoration, an interesting history, the Spišsky Grad rises above the small town of Spišské Podgorie. There is a castle on the dolomite rocks at an altitude of 200 m.

The territory of the Spišsky Castle - 4 hectares. It is the biggest castle not only in Slovakia but also one of the largest in Europe.

The first buildings in the future castle's territory belong to the Celts and are dated second millennium BC. e. The remains of these structures (for example, the earthen rampart) are on the territory of the fortress. But the Spišsky Grad began with another architectural detail - a stone tower, within which several floors were located. Presumably, it was built at the end of the 11th century and then destroyed by an earthquake.

In 1241 the Spišsky Castle was fortified and successfully resisted the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars. Tempered in a multitude of battles and sieges, the Asians could not take the fortress.

After the Mongol-Tatars, the Spišsky Grad became bigger - a massive defensive tower appeared, a three-story Romanesque palace and the so-called upper courtyard. This includes residential and storage facilities and a knight's hall.

In the citadel, a decent supply of provisions and water was collected, and there was also a weapons warehouse. It should be noted that the Spyshsky Castle had to withstand more than one siege in its time, so this fortification was used even if the enemy was many times superior.

Inaccessibility of the Spišsky Castle gave birth to a legend about the ghost of the noblewoman Hedwigi, walls. The unfortunate girl was a nanny to the girl Barbara, the daughter of the owner of the castle. His enemy stole the girl from the castle, he managed to get into the fortress, pretending to be a troubadour. The guards opened the gates, the villain stole the child and disappeared in an unknown direction. Hedwig killed herself with grief. Since then, her ghost has been walking around the castle and unsuccessfully looking for a little Barbara.

In the 15th century, the Spišsky Castle receives new fortifications, and a new wall was encircled by the fortress wall - there was an army to protect the castle. So the citadel had a lower courtyard, and the appearance of the Spišsky Grad actually acquired what we see today. The castle is divided into three parts - the upper, middle and lower courtyards, each of which is actually an autonomous fortress. Therefore, even the capture of one part did not give the enemy a complete victory over the Spišsky Castle.

All the owners of the Spišsky Castle were literally obsessed with security issues and constantly fortified the castle in accordance with the changing types of weapons and the growing number of protection. In history, only a couple of attempts to capture the Spišsky Castle were saved, and then not very successful. Only a big fire overcame the castle in 1780.

For a long time the Spišsky Castle was in oblivion, but in the middle of the 20th century it was granted the status of a national reserve, restoration and archaeological work began there.

Historical reconstructions and theatrical performances are an integral part of the Spišsky Castle.

Spišsky Grad works daily from March to October. In the late autumn and winter the castle is closed to visitors. From March to April, visitors are expected from 10:00 to 16:00, and from May to October - from 9:00 to 19:00.

The town of Spišské Podhradie can be reached by train from Poprad. Or take a bus from Levoca or Poprad. But it's best to rent a car - it can be parked in a parking lot near the mountain where the Spišsky Grad is located

Address: Slovakia, 053 04 Spisske Podhradie, Stefanikova, 957/109

All prices are in September 2014

Spišsky Grad

Entrance to the Spišsky Grad

Pushki, Spišsky Grad

Knight's outfit, Spišsky Castle

Walls of the fortress, Spišsky Grad